Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Mapping Vulnerable Zones

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

TEGUCIGALPA, Apr 13 2009 (IPS) - The Honduran government presented the first risk and vulnerability map of the country, distributed to local and environmental authorities. The map will serve in making decisions about measures for preventing damage during the rainy season, which begins in May. Marcos Burgos, coordinator of the nation's Permanent Committee for Contingencies, told Tierramérica that there are 28 vulnerable areas in departments around the country.

The map, elaborated by national and foreign experts, “will allow us to put a bigger emphasis of those areas through permanent risk mitigation plans, in order to reduce the emergencies the rainy seasons cause us,” he said.

The biggest problems identified are mudslides, seismic tremors and floods.